Cycle & Change out may 9

The album is inspired and structured to follow the Wheel of the Year, with the 16 songs representing the 8 sun holidays: Spring Equinox, Beltane, Summer Solstice, Lammas, Fall Equinox, All Hallows, Winter Solstice, and Imbolc. The Wheel of the Year divides the year into eight different seasons, each lasting six weeks, and this thematic structure plays a significant role in shaping the album's journey.

“‘Cycle & Change’ follows the life cycle of a year, drawing on themes of nature and the interplay of light and dark throughout the seasons,“ said Westwater. "This album feels like the album I've been waiting for, it feels like a book of poetry, an ode to earth and relationships."

Cycle & Change blends introspective folk with subtle jazz influences, featuring Westwater’s glacial, dynamic vocals set against organic, earthy instrumentation with delicate acoustic guitar, ethereal keys, and thoughtful arrangements, creating a reflective, emotionally resonant atmosphere that evolves with each track. Westwater explores themes of sexuality, queerness, climate change, trust, spirituality, and motherhood on this record.

“Written over the last decade, the album reflects the profound life changes I've experienced, shaped by the pandemic, isolation, friendship, the loss of a grandparent, Roe v. Wade, queerness, and even my connection to gardening. It's a deeply personal journey through growth and transformation."

Through both haunting and anthemic melodies at its core, Cycle & Change is an invitation to embrace vulnerability, emotion, and personal growth, encouraging reflection on one’s own transformative journey. The collection channels both joy and sorrow, sensuality and fear, through nuanced storytelling and melodic depth. Westwater’s artistry serves as both a mirror and a guide, offering a space for personal exploration and change.

Recorded in an old church at Ghost Hit Recording in West Springfield, Massachusetts, Cycle & Change captures the spirit of the changing seasons as leaves fell on the tombstones surrounding the church, the album took shape, reflecting Westwater’s efforts to merge their spirituality with their music and fully embrace their identity as both a songwriter and a witch.

About Cycle & Change